Vancouver Island University’s ElderCollege speaker series starts this fall by taking on the topic of Trump.
Peter Jay Smith will make a presentation called ‘Trump, Populism and Fake News’ on Sept. 22 at Nanoose Place.
According to an ElderCollege press release, Smith will look at the relationship between social media, ‘fake news’ and populism during Donald Trump’s 2016 election campaign.
Smith will discuss how Trump bonded with voters via social media and how populism can lead to a form of fascism.
“Not a fascism that will lead to war, but a fascism that will control and win elections and weaken liberal democracy,” Smith notes in the press release.
Smith is a political science professor at Athabasca University in Alberta. He is author or co-author of of numerous publications on social forum, activism and the role that digital media plays in election campaigns.
Saturday’s talk goes from 10 a.m.-noon at Nanoose Place, 2925 Northwest Bay Rd., Nanoose Bay.
VIU ElderCollege talks are open to the public at a cost of $10 cash at the door, or free for anyone 18 and under.
For more information about VIU ElderCollege, call 1-866-734-6252 or visit www.viu.ca/eldercollege.